Duck hunter&#39;s boat



May 29, 1956 c. J. ERICKSON Er AL 2,747,204

DUCK HUNTER 'S BOAT Filed Jan. 8, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l :is k

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May 29, 1956 c. .1. ERICKSON Er AL 2,747,204

DUCK HUNTER'S BOAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 8, 1954 A n n,

United States Patent O DUCK HUNTERS BOAT Charles J. Erickson and CharlesR. Erickson, Salt Lake City, Utah Application January 8, 1954, SerialNo. 403,000

3 Claims. (Cl. 9 5) The present invention relates to a small boat forduck hunters, fishermen, or the like who engage in their pastime oroccupation along the shores of lakes and rivers where weed growth andshallow waters impede the use of conventional boats of deeper draft anddesign.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide 4a smallboat of light weight and compactness so that the hunter or fisherman caneasily transport it in his car and when used is easily carried to thewaters edge and through the weeds or marsh grasses in the water.

Another object of the invention is to provide a boat for hunters whichis unsinkable as ordinarily used and depends upon the occupant extendingthrough a central well or aperture to support the occupants weight insuch a balance as to result in a practically non-tipping waterconveyance.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a boat aswould ride comparatively high in the water and has sides which resistthe shipping aboard of waves.

Yet another object is to provide such a boat for hunters and fishermenwhich has compartments for the stowage of duifel, with easily operatedhatch covers on each compartment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a boat in whichthe occupant rides in an aperture and one which has adjustable means forsupporting the occupant in the aperture, so that the occupant may shifthis weight to overcome cramped standing in a single position.

These and other objects and advantages will be more fully apparent fromconsideration of the following description when taken in connection withthe annexed drawings, in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a side view in section taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1 of thepresent invention, t

Figure 3 is an end view in section taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is an end view in section taken on line 4 4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a top view in section of the present invention taken on line5 5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in section and greater detail of thefootrest of the present invention,

Figure 7 is a detailed view in section taken on line 7 7 of Figure 1 ofthe oarlock of the present invention, and

Figure 8 is a detailed view in section taken on line 8 8 of Figure 1.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing, in which like numbersindicate like parts throughout the several views, the body of the boatis indicated generally at 10, and is seen to have a top surface 11 andbottom surface 12 positioned in coplanar relation, the top surface 11being dimensioned greater in width and length than said bottom surface12 to provide a marginal overlap. A continuous border wall 13 is securedto the bottom sur- 2,747,204 Patented May 29, 1956 ICC face by itsinwardly extending flange 14 and to the top surface 12 by its outwardlyextending flange 1S.

A shoulder 16 is formed in the wall 13 and has a -reinforcing member 17on it within vthe body 1'0. A partition or bulkhead 18 separates thebody 10 into a forward compartment 21 and a rear compartment 22, in thelatter of which are the vertically walled aperture 23 and the pipe 24,both extending all the way through and being open top and bottom. Anoarlock 25 is positioned on each side of the top surface 11 in themarginal edge 26 thereof where the top surface 11 projects out over the'wall 13.

The forward and rear compartments 21 and 22 each have a hatch opening 27in the top and are fitted with identical hatch covers 28 with hinges 29and hasps 31. The pipe 24 carries within it the rudderpost 32 on theupper end of which is the removable cap 33, and on the lower end ofwhich is the footrest 34, together with the rudder 35, which extendsunder the forward compartment 21, although it is expected that in use,the occupant (indicated at 20 in Figure 2) of the boat will use theloars provided (not here shown) in the conventional manner to propel theboat in the opposite direction to which he is facing. In use as a Iboatfor hunting or fishing, however, the compartment directly to the frontof the occupant, is here termed the forward compartment.

A collar 36 and thumb screw 37 are slidably positioned on the rudderpost32 so that the relative height of the footrest 34 may be changed toaccommodate different sized individuals, or to change the height of thehunter or fisher in the boat, for better balance or to accommodateadverse wave conditions. It is an advantage of the invention that thisfootrest may be shifted up or down to relieve the strain of standing inone position for any length of time, generally a discomfort to huntersand others having to maintain relative quiet positions. The rudderpost32 turns readily in the pipe 24 by action of the feet, and serves toguide the boat where desired.

In action, the boat is entered while at the waters edge, and with thehands supporting the boat by the marginal overlap of the flange 15,'andthe duffel is disposed in either or both of the forward and rearcompartments Z1, 22, and guns or tackle disposed on the top surface 11within the confines of the upstanding rim 38, the occupant carries theboat into the water until it fioats, and then when deeper water isreached, the rudderpost is lowered to whatever height is comfortable andthe oars are unshipped for action.

A fish box 41 is attached to one side or the other of the boat, in orderthat fish caught may be kept fresh and in order that the compartmentsmay remain clean. Similarly, fowl shot down by the hunter may be therecontained, or in one of the compartments as desired. The cap 33 on therudderpost 32 is easily removed and the rudderpost withdrawn from thepipe 24 for ready storage and ease of transport. The footrest ispreferably Weighted with lead 42 and has upturned ends 43 for thecomfort of the user. Preferably, the top and bottom surfaces ofthe boatare constructed of waterproof plywood, with a rim of a suitablehardwood, and the walls formed of aluminum or similar lightweight andeasily worked metal.

The many advantages of the boat of the design of the present inventionare obvious, although many changes and modifications are contemplatedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A duck hunters and fishermans boat comprising a body having a topsurfaceV and a bottom surface positioned in coplanar relation, acontinuous border wall connecting said top and bottom surfaces, abulkhead in said body arranged to divide said body into a forward and arear compartment, said rear compartment having a vertically walledaperture therethrough adapted to accommodiate an occupant, an upstandingpipe in said rear compartment extending through said top and bottomsurfaces, a rudderpost slidably extending through said pipe, a rudder onthe lower end of said rudder post, and foot rest means on saidrudderpost adjacent the lower end to support an occupant in saidaperture.

2. A duck hunters and iisherrnans boat comprising a hollow body having atop Surface and a bottom surface positioned in coplanar relation, acontinuous border wall connecting said top and bottom surfaces, abulkhead in said body arranged to divide said body into a forward and arear compartment, a hatch opening in said top surface for each of saidcompartments, a cover for each hatch opening, said body further having apair of walled apertures extending vertically therethrough, one of saidapertures dimensioned to accommodate an occupant, a rudderpostadjustably positioned in the other of said apertures, and foot restmeans on said rudderpost at the lower end thereof to support an occupantin said aperture.

3. A duck hunters and rishermans boat comprising a body having a topsurface and a bottom surface positioned in spaced coplanar relation,said top surface being of greater dimension each way than said bottomsurface to provide a marginal overlap on each edge, a vertical borderwall on said body, said wall having an inwardly extending tlangeconnected to the marginal edge of said bottom surface and an outwardlyextending ange connected to said top surface, at least one outwardlyextending shoulder on said wall, a bulkhead in said body arranged todivide said body into a forward compartment and a rear compartment, saidrear compartment having a vertically walled aperture therethrough, anupstanding pipe in said body extending through said top and bottomsurfaces, a rudderpost slidable in said pipe and adjustably positionedwith respect to said pipe, a rudder means on the lower end of saidrudderpost, and footrest means on said rudderpost adjacent the lower endadapted to support an occupant in said aperture.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

